Leg and foot developer



Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,711

' J. J. COOPER LEG AND FOOT DEVELOPER Filed Sept. 25, 1924 2 Sheets-Shea 1 lNV NTOR ATTORNEYS Aug. 4, 1925.

1,548,711 J. J. COOPER LEG AND FOOT DEvfiLoPER Filed Sept. 23. 1924 2 Sheets-Shut 2 XNVENTOR Jhn J. Cooper BY ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

JOHN J. coornm'or itoitk, iv. Y.

Lee Ann room nEvE-Lorna Application filed September 23, 1924.- Serial No. 739,387.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN J. Coornn, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Imroved Leg and Foot Developer, of which the following is a description.

My in'venti on relates to a-surgi cal applr ance and particularly to an appliance that Will be effective in restoring lost functions to certain important muscles of" the hips, legs and feet.

Many muscles become atrophied 0r essentially Wi'tlio'ut function, owing to the lack of proper exercise or by reason o fdisease or wounds, and the prime obyect of my invention is to provide an appliance embodying eleii'i'entsconstitutingin effect artificial ligaie'nts which will so function as to subject theinuscles and tendons of the hips, legs and feet to a resistance iii Walking to bring about a control of defective muscles and act-in a compelling manner on the person being treated and in a Way to activate the muscles and restore them to normal functions as Well as to produce proper blood circulation in the affected regions.

Another object in view-is to produce an appliance corrective of leg and foot defects Without the employment of splints or'arcli supports as usually einployed.

It is recognized by orthopedists and other surgical practitioner's as Well as by those enga ed inthe correction of phys cal defects that straight heel and toe Walking and Walking by toeing in aid in preventng a tendency to develop fallen arches and flat feet and that said h'eeland toe Walking and toeing in will go far to restore and correct fallen arches and flat feet byactivating the muscles and tendons of the feet and bringing about ample blood circulation in the feet particularly atthe arches Accordingly, it isan object of'iny invention to provide an appliance that will make heel and toe Walk: ing and more or less of'a toeing in in Walls ing natural and normal and in fact be coinpelling toward a practice of the corrective \vall zing referred to;

Specifically, the invention has for its ob ject to provide an appliance for th'e'stated purpose characterized by few parts of simple form and arrangement which may .ae conveniently Worn by male or femaiesubjects requiringtreatment in the directions referred to, and which is characterized as well by a convenient-adjustability so that the appliance may be employed in the most effective manner and in a way offering muscle resistance along linescalculat'ed to produce the maximum restorative effects on the parts or areas requiring correction and restoration, to a. degree a proaching or attaining normalcy. I

In a practical embodiment of my surgical appliance having elongated resilient elements constituting ligaments, means is provided to hold the ligaments at the upper ends and advantageouslythe said means is in the former a Waist belt having a device adapted for a'tt'a'clnnent to an article of Wearing apparel to prevent displacement of the belt vertically or in a direction about the body; and also at the lower ends the ligaments have means to secure the "same to the shoes of the wearer or to an equivalent anklet or other article of Wear. Furthermore in the-practical cz'irr-ying out of the invention, guide means is preferably provided for the ligaments between the upper and lower ends thereof to directionally determine the pull for a completelyeffective action by the ligaments. I

tef'erence is to behad tothe accompany ing drawings forming a part of this specification, it being understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of eizainples of the; invention. 7 I

Figure l is a perspective view of a leg and foot developer einbodyinginy invention,

showing the same in use;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the leg and foot developer before application to the person to be treated;

Figure 3 is a detail in enlarged transverse vertical section as indicated by the line 3-3, Figure 2;

Figure 4: is a vertical section taken through one of the clasps for attaching the lower end of the ligament to the top of the shoe upper or equivalent article of Wear;

Figure 5 is an elevation of a leg band or garter equipped with uide means for the ligament in accordance with my invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a modified belt attachment adapted tobe engaged with corset strings when the developer .is Worn by awoinan;

Figure '1" is a View similar to Figure 4: but showing a modified form of clasp;

Figure 8 is a perspective View illustrating a modification employing an anklet and foot strap as a foot sling instead of using the shoe as a foot sling;

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the anklet and foot strap assemblage shown in Figure 8, the view including a fragment of the ligament element;

Figure 9 is a detail in vertical section on line 99, Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view in elevation to be further referred to;

Figure 11 is a perspective View illustrating a modification of the anklet assemblage;

Figure 12 is a perspective View similar to Figures 1 and 8 illustrating an adaptation of the appliance for juvenile wear.

In carrying out my invention in accordance with the illustrated example a broad belt 10 is provided, adapted to be worn about the waist. Pendent from the belt 10 are elongated elements designated generally by the numeral 11. and hereinafter referred to further, said elements constituting ligaments, as will appear. At the lower ends the ligaments are provided with clasps 1 and as the strains on the ligaments are more or less severe it is important to effect a firm holding by the clasp 12 for which purpose as shown in Figure l the lever 13 on the clasp is adapted to bind against the outer side of the upper of a shoe a of the wearer,

said lever having an inturned lower end 113. In Figure 7 is illustrated a modification of the clasp designated 112. Said clasp has the lever 13 and its inturned end 113. In addition the back or inner jaw 215 of the clasp is formed with a fastener preferably in the form of a stud 312 adapted to enter an eyelet Z) in the upper of the shoe (4 shown in part in said Figure 7. The arrangement illustrated in Figure 7 is intended to effect a more positive engagement of the shoe to withstand at all times the strains of a substantial pull by the ligament on the clasp and shoe. 7

The belt 10 provides means to hold the upper ends of the. ligaments 11 and the clasps 12 or 112 provide for securing it at the lower ends. In addition in order to directionally determine the lifting action'or pull exerted by the elements on the foot and lower portions of the legs of the user,'I pro vide leg bands or garters 14: which may be of any approved form having depending tabs 15 provided with hose clasps 16. On the leg bands 14- guidemeans for the ligaments is provided and in the illustrated example said means consists of a tab 17 depending from the band l l'which tab is also equipped with a hose clasp 16. On the tab 17 is a guide ring 18 secured in the illustrated example by sewing at diametrically opposite sides as at 19. It is to be noted that the guide ring (18) or equivalent guide means is disposed at the back of the leg at the knee. This requires the ligament 11 to take an oblique line from the hip at the outside laterally inward and to the back of the leg.

Reverting to the ligaments 11 the same have incorporated therein elasticor spring means which opposes distention of the ligaments and exerts a lifting action on the foot and lower portions of the legs by the reaction of the elastic sections. I have shown 1 an upper elastic section 20 and a lower elustic section 120, these being connected by an inelastic strip 21 secured at its lower end to the lowerelastic section as at 22 and held at its upper end by a suitable buckle 23 per-.

mitting adjustment of the inelastic section 21 to vary the total effective length of the ligaments as well as to determine the resistance afforded by the elastic sections to the distention of the ligaments. p

The clasps 12 or 112are engaged with the uppers of the shoes a at the inner sides.

The positioning of the guide means 18 at the back of the leg and the fastening of the ligaments to the shoes and at the inner sides thereof result in an effective resistance by the elastic sectlons of the ligaments along an oblique line extending from the hip lat-. erally inward to the backs of the legs at the knees and thence downwardly and for- 'the toe or ball of the foot to bring about true heel and toe walking and toeiug in. The disposition of the ligament elements 11 along the oblique line described minimizes the friction of said elements against the person or garments of the wearer and interferes to the minimum extent with the free movements of said elements. V

In order to prevent discomfort to the user of the appliance the upper elastic seotion 20 of each ligament 11 is connected to the belt 10 by a tab 24 to which is secured a loop 25 through which the upper end of the section 20 is passed, said upper end having snap fastener elements .as indicated at 26 to detachably hold said elastic section and the ligament to the belt. At the lower end of the tab 24 the same is folded in a manner to provide a pad 27 to cushion the pressure of the section 20 against the hip of the user. Again, at the bottom of the ligament, that is. at the lower end of the elastic juncture of tab 33 with said elastic section the material is formed into a plurality of section 120, the clasp 12 is shown as con- 39 hips laterally inward on oblique lines to the folds or thicknesses which also constitute a .pad 34 to prevent discomfort by lateral pressure of the ligament at the ankle.

It is important to prevent the falling of the belt 110 or its displacement about the bled on itself and secured by its ends to belt 1O at each side-ofthe lacing 110 of the belt. The element 28 is shown as formed with a loop 29 at the top adapted to be engaged with a button 30' on suspenders 31 at the back thereof. Thus, tne fastening of the element QS'to the suspenders, in the case of a male wearer of the appliance, will be effective in constraining the belt 10 to main tain its position with the ligaments 11' properly disposed at the sides. For womens wear the belt 10 is equipped with an element 128 corresponding in all respects with the element 28 except that it is provided at the top with ahook 129 to engage corset strings not shown) at the back of the wearer.

It has been found in practice that the mode of functioning of the above described appliance due to the particular manner of disposing the ligaments 11 running from the backs of the legs at the knees and thence continuing inward to the inner sides of the legs at the ankles requires the muscles of the hips, legs and feet to perform the necessary work and subjects them tobenevolent exercising movements in overcoming the resistant attribute in the elements 1 1, thus effectively making for restorative results in the defective regions.

In the described assemblage the shoe is employed as a foot sling. In the form shown in Figures 8 to 10, ana-nklet having a foot strap is employed as a foot sling in association with the ligaments 11. In Figure V8 is shown an anklet 35 usually of. canvas suitably reinforced where needed, as by a layer 36 of leather, extending over a suitable area ofthe anklet. A ring 37 or equivalent device is secured to the anklet 35 at the reinforced area to receive a snaphook 38 or like fastening device on the lowerend of the bottom elastic section 120 of ligament 11. The ankletv is tightened about the leg of the user by reason of lacing 39 a runof which may be passed through eyelets in the shoe C. On anklet 35 is a stud 10 to pass through the hole 0 of the shoe. The purpose of the stud to and hole 0 in the shoe or the passing of thc'anklet lacing through the shoe eyelets is to prevent the possibility of pull on the ligament 11 exerting a force on theanlrlet tending to displace the same about the leg of the wearer. The numeral l1 indicates a foot strap suspended from the anklet and adapted to be passed beneath the arch of the foot. Thus, the a-nklet assemblage constitutes a foot sling in lieu of the shoe a functioning as a foot sling as in Figure 1.

In the form shown in Figure 11 the an'klet 135 is shaped with a foot strap so that it presents an opening at the front through which the foot passes, the foot strap portion going beneath the arch of the foot. The ring 137 corresponding with the ring 37 is in the form shown in Figure 11 carried by an auxiliary foot strap 141 and said auxiliary foot strap 141 passes freely through a guide loop L2 on the anklet 135.

In the form shown in Figure 12 illustrating the adaptation of the appliance for juvenile wear, the ligaments 11 are passed through holes (Z in the stockings D adjacent to the topof the uppers of the shoes A and in that way the clasp is engaged with the shoes without exposing the ligament conspicu'ously.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated examples constitute practical embodiments of my invention, I do not limit myself strictly to the exact details herein illustrated, since, manifestly, the same can be considerably varied without departure from the spirit of the invention defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

- 1. In an appliance for use in subjecting legs and feet to corrective treatment, elongated elements adapted to be disposed along the legs of the person to be treated, said elements having embodied therein means yieldin'gly resistant of distention thereof and adapted to react and restore said elements after distention; together with means to secure said elements at the lower ends adjacent the feet of the user, as wellas means to position and hold the upper ends of said elements adjacent the hips, to thus constitute said elements artificial ligaments, and guide means for said elements between said upper and lower ends, and positioned to guide the ligaments to and past the backs of the legs adjacent the knees.

2. In an appliance for use in subjecting the legs and feet to corrective treatment, elongated elements having incorporated therein means yielding resist-ant of distention of the elements and adapted to react and restore the elements after the distention, means from which said elements are pendent, said means adapted to position and hold the upper ends of said elements adjacent the hips of the user, means to fasten said elements at their lower ends adjacent to the feet of the user, and guide means adapted to be applied to the legs of the user above the feet with which guide means sai d elements have running engagement, said guide means being positioned to cause said elements to run obliquely from the hips to and past the backs of the legs adjacent the knees.

3. In an appliance for use in subjecting the legs and feet to corrective treatment, elongated elements having incorporated therein means yieldinglyresistant of distention of the elements and adapted to react and restore the elements after the distention, a belt from which said elementsare pendent in positions at the sides of the belt, so as to bedisposed at the hips of the user, means to secure the lower ends of the elements to wearing apparel adjacent the feet and at the inner sides of the legs, and guide means between the belt and the lower ends of said elements and adaptedto constrain said elements to take a position extending from the hips downwardly and laterally inward so that the said elements will assume an approximately oblique line from the lower ends at the inside of each foot to the hips.

4. In an appliance for use in subjecting the legs and feet to corrective treatment, elongated elements composed of upper and lower elastic sections and an intermediate inelastic section adjustable to vary the total effective length of said elements and there- 7 by determine the resistance to distention afforded by the said elastic sections, means to position and hold said elements atvthe upper ends adjacent the hips of the user, means to guide said elements to the backs of the legs adjacent the knees, and means to secure the lower ends to articles of wear of the user adjacent the feetso that the reaction of the said elements after distention will exert a lifting action.

5. An appliance for use in subjecting the legs and feet to corrective treatment, elongated elements composed of upper and lower elastic sections and an intermediate inelastic section adjustable to vary the total effective length of said elements and thereby determine the resistance to distention afforded by thesaid elastic sections, means to position and hold said elements at the upper ends adjacent the hips of the user, and means to secure the lower ends to articles ofwear of the user adjacent the feet so that the reaction of said elements after distention will exert a lifting action; together with guide means adapted to be fixed to the legs of the user above the lower ends of said elements and positioned to guide said elements to the backs of the legs with which 7 guide means said inelastic section of the elements has running engagement.

6. In an appliance for use in subjecting the legs and feet to corrective treatment; elongated elements having incorporated therein means yieldingly resistant of'distention and adapted to react and restore said elements after distention, a belt from which said elements are pendent, and pads tioned.

7. An appliance for use insubjecting legs and feetto corrective treatment, said appliance having an elongated element in which is incorporated means yieldingly resistant of distention and adapted to react and exert a lifting action after distention, and means to position said element and hold the same disposed along the leg of the wearer to constitute a ligament between the lower portion of the leg at the inner side and apoint adjacent a hip of the user, said second mentioned means including holding means for: i

the upper end of the resistant ligament element as well as means constituting a foot sling with which the lower endof said element has connection; together with means i on the foot sling to engage an article of wear and restrain the foot sling against a displacing movement about the leg of the wearer.

8. An appliance for use in subjecting legs and feet to corrective treatment, said appliance having an elongated element in which is incorporated means yieldingly resistant of distention and adapted to react and exert, a lifting action after distention, and means at theupper end of said element to position said upper end and hold the same against displacement, an anklet, a foot strappendent from the ankle adapted to pass'beneath the foot of the user, means on said anklet at a side thereof to be engagedby the lower end of said ligamentelement, and means on the anklet adapted to engage an article of foot wear to prevent displacement of the anklet about the ankle.

9; An appliance for use in subjecting legs and feet to corrective treatment, said appliancehaving an elongated element in which is incorporated means yieldingly resistant of distention and adapted to react and exert a lifting action after distention, and means to position said element and hold the same disposed along the leg of the wearer to constitute a ligament between the lower portion of the leg and a point adjacent a hip of the user, said second mentioned means including holding means for the upper end of the resistant ligament element as well as means constituting a foot sling with which the lower end of said element has connection, said foot sling comprising an anklet anda foot strap to extend beneath the foot of the user, as well as an auxiliary foot strap havrelatively to the adjacent anklet surface.

10. An appliance for use in subjecting legs and feet to corrective treatment which comprises elongated elastic ligaments, means for supporting the upper ends of the ligaments adjacent the hips, said ligaments being carried downwardly and diagonally across the back of the legs, and means for securing the lower end of a ligament to the foot and at the inside of the foot so that the ligaments will not only raise the foot 10 but by reason of the diagonal disposition of the ligaments and the connection of the ligaments at the inside of the foot, the foot will be teed-in.

JOHN J. COOPER. 

